'Most GPs to reject extra hours'

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Health Secretary Alan Johnson has written to every GP in England explaining why he wants surgeries to open at weekends and in the evenings.

Significant numbers of patients have told his department that opening at more convenient times should be a priority for the NHS, he said.

But doctors point to last year's Mori poll of more than two million patients which revealed 84% were happy with their practice's opening hours.

Doctors also believe patients who use their surgeries the most would lose out and have accused the Government of trying to move the goalposts over the GP contract.

A poll of 350 GPs for GP newspaper found that 65% would reject the Government's offer.

Almost a third (29%) would accept under protest while 6% would accept.

If GPs do not accept the Government's changes, cash could be given straight to primary care trusts to commission services to meet needs, including from private companies.

According to the British Medical Association, practices which do not agree to open extended hours stand to lose an average of £16,800.

According to GP newspaper, 300 GPs at a meeting of Birmingham's Local Medical Committee unanimously rejected the terms of a new contract.